A Georgia couple, James and Lucretia Klucken, lost their longtime family home after falling victim to a forged deed that triggered a fraudulent reverse mortgage. The Kluckens began receiving repayment notices in 2019 for a $50,000 mortgage they said they never signed. A handwriting expert later confirmed James’ signature had been forged, yet foreclosure proceedings were already underway. Despite filing a complaint with the sheriff’s office, the case was deemed civil, leaving the couple powerless to stop the eviction.
The fraudulent deed, notarized by parties the couple never met, eventually led to the property being sold at auction. Although the Kluckens have sued the buyer, Maverick Land Company LLC, and were offered a settlement of more than $300,000, they declined. Their story highlights the growing dangers of title and mortgage fraud nationwide. Recent reports show nearly half of real estate closings display red flags for fraud, and mortgage scams rose over 7% in early 2025. Experts urge homeowners to monitor property records and use title protection services to guard against these increasingly sophisticated schemes.
This story was first reported by HousingWire.com
